Janice Bishop-LeMelle calls for a greater level of sensitivity between police and community during a prayer service at the Cedar Hill Government Center in Cedar Hill, Texas the day following a deadly ambush on police. (Nathan Hunsigner/Staff Photographer)

Officers shot, killed during peaceful Dallas protest

Updated 1 p.m. July, 20 2016

Four Dallas police officers and one DART officer have been killed and at least seven were injured after shots were fired in downtown Dallas during a rally and march Thursday night, officials said.

Dallas police Chief David Brown said about 8:58 p.m., at least two snipers shot 11 officers and one civilian from elevated positions during the rally in downtown.

The officers were shot "ambush style," Brown said, with some shot in the back.

"Give our officers strength to catch these suspects and bring them to justice tonight," he said.